Volleyball downs Eagles, 3-1

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team downed UW-La Crosse 3-1 (25-16, 16-25, 25-22, 25-21) on Wednesday in Mitchell Hall.

Freshman Merritt Johnson led the Pioneers with 10 digs, while sophomore Lidia Frias posted a .533 hitting percentage with nine kills. Freshman Allison Jensen and junior Jennifer Schmidt each tallied eight kills apiece. Sophomore Lindsey Decker led the defense with 14 digs.

The Pioneers used a 9-1 run to take the first set 25-16 and hit an impressive .435 for the set.

With the second set knotted up at 6-6, the Eagles scored the next six points to take a 12-6 lead. UW-Platteville managed to cut the deficit to three, 13-10, but UWL stopped the Pioneers comeback and went on to win the set, 25-16.

In the third set no team lead by more than three points. A service ace by Johnson gave the Pioneers a 22-20, and then a pair of kills by Kelley Lynch sealed the set for UW-Platteville, 25-22.

The Pioneers trailed for most of the fourth set, but managed to knot up the set at 16-16. A kill by Jensen and a UWL error gave the Pioneers an 18-16 lead. With the two-point lead, the Pioneers pushed on to win the set 25-21.

UW-Platteville will end the regular season on Saturday at UW-Stevens Point at 1 p.m.